Results 9,241-9,260 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: This has arisen because we are moving from a Dublin transport authority that was to have nine members to a national transport authority. While I may not necessarily appoint 11 members to the latter authority, 11 would be a more appropriate number for a national transport authority. The amendment, which is to section 14(2)(d), requires that the chairperson and eight ordinary members, as...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Amendment No. 7 is a technical amendment to substitute the term "public bus services" for "public bus passenger services" in sections 48, 52 and 54 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. This is a technical amendment in the interest of consistency between the 2008 Act and the provisions of the Bill. This was pointed out to us during the course of consultation on the Act.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 provide that the authority must consider the opinion of the committee and set out a definition of that opinion. It is not just a matter that the committee's opinion is sought and ignored. It has to be considered fully and decided on. Bill reported with amendments.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the House for its co-operation. This Bill started in the House. It is an historic Bill because it replaces a 77 year old Act that dates to 1932. There has been much talk over the years about changing and reforming that Bill. I thank in particular the Members of Seanad Éireann and the staff for the co-operation I received in initiating the Bill and ensuring we got a good debate and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Pay scales are laid down in Department of Finance Circulars. My Department makes monthly returns to the Department of Finance of the number of officers serving in each grade. I will arrange to have copies of the Department of Finance Pay scales and the end of year return for each of the years specified, sent on to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have not issued any such order. Under the Road Traffic Acts and the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997, the granting of a disabled person's parking permit is a matter for the issuing authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association. For the purposes of the Disabled Parking Scheme, the Regulations define a disabled person as a "person who...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As provided for under Section 30 of the Harbours Act 1996, I have sought nominations for the current vacancy on the board of Dublin Port from a number of stakeholders. The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, IBEC, ICTU and a number of representative bodies from the shipping sector were included in the consultation and I received a number of nominations. The Ports Policy Statement gives a number...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 incorporates provision for a new licensing system that will be implemented by the National Transport Authority and will be applied in respect of all commercial public bus passenger services. A feature of that system is that its implementation is dependent on the production by the Authority of guidelines under section 23 of the Act. Drafts of guidelines...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware I fully support the Government's commitment to switch to electric vehicle technology with the aim of achieving market penetration of 10% by 2020. Alternative technologies for transport form an important element of Smarter Travel, which I launched earlier this year and my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is providing leadership in...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no record of the receipt of an application in respect of an extension to the route referred to in the question.

Written Answers — Haulage Industry: Haulage Industry (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) for their submission and welcome its positive contribution to the debate on how a reduction in carbon emissions in the haulage sector might be achieved. I have referred this matter, including the IRHA proposal on how the tax might be collected, to my colleague the Minister for Finance for his consideration.

Written Answers — Sustainable Transport: Sustainable Transport (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I set up a competition for Smarter Travel Areas to help deliver integrated sustainable transport systems in towns and rural areas across Ireland. Smarter Travel Areas will represent a radical and innovative approach to managing mobility in Ireland, ensuring people can access the services they need to while ensuring environmental, economic sustainability and delivering healthy, active...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Department of Transport's expenditure on heating oil and gas in 2008 was €88,718.48. The cost of electricity to the Department in 2008 was €419,781.07, which would also be used to a small extent for heating purposes in some offices and buildings. Insofar as the agencies under the aegis of the Department are concerned, the arrangements for managing their properties are matters to be...

Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The councillors instruct the manager.

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (2 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Statutory responsibility for regulation of the travel trade rests with the Commission for Aviation Regulation. I have no function in this regard. I understand the commission has posted all information relevant to the closure of Budget Travel, including the rules regarding travel vouchers, on its website, www.aviationreg.ie.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has lead responsibility for the management of EU assisted programmes involving the development of major transport infrastructures, including the national roads network. In the period referred to by the Deputy there have been two such programmes: the Transport Operational Programme 1994-1999 and the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme 2000-2006. The source...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As the Dublin Airport Authority is a commercial State body, I have no function in relation to the number of staff employed by it. However, details of the number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the authority are set out in its annual report and financial statements, which are laid before the Oireachtas and copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 199 and 201 together. It is the responsibility of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to agree the terms and conditions (including pay and emoluments) of their Chief Executive within the remuneration levels approved by my Department with the consent of the Department of Finance. Details of the Chief Executive's pay and emoluments are published in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 200 together. My responsibility with regard to directors of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is confined to appointing them and ensuring their fees are at the level as determined by the Department of Finance from time to time. I have no responsibility with regard to the expenses or entitlements of the management of the Company. Directors'...